incessant
adj.adj. continuing for a long time without stopping in a way that is annoying. You use this to describe sounds or actions that feel like they will never end.
adj. continuing without pause or interruption, typically in an unpleasant or annoying manner. Often used to describe auditory stimuli or repetitive actions.
The incessant rain ruined our plans for a picnic.
We had to move to a different hotel because of the incessant noise from the construction site next door.
The incessant ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway became a source of profound irritation as he struggled to concentrate on his manuscript during the quiet hours of the night.
From Late Middle English incessaunte, from Late Latin incessāns, incessantem, from Latin in- + cessāns.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Typically used attributively before a noun; carries a negative connotation of persistence.
Last updated May 11, 2026